The Cutie Mark Crusaders come across a strange object that can grant them wishes, but at a price.
“I'm throwing caution,/What's it gonna be?/Tonight the winds of change are coming over me.” -The Killers, ‘Caution’
At the Ponyville Farmer’s Market, the Cutie Mark Crusaders find a strange chicken talon that can grant them whatever their heart desire. Despite the warnings from the merchant about the price they each may pay, the fillies are excited for their wishes. What could possibly go wrong?
It was a sunny Saturday morning in Ponyville. The day may have just begun, but the entire town was already filled with life, particularly in the market square. There, a number of ponies and other creatures had set up a number of booths and stalls for the weekly farmer’s market. Tarps were laid out, tents propped up, and tables were set up for customers to browse the different produce, plants, and other wares. Fruits and vegetables, cheeses, clothing, books, knick-knacks and oddities, and even street food were offered to all of the creatures in the crowd. Amongst the crowd trotting along the aisle of the marketplace, there were three best friends: Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo.
“Ahh, the farmer’s market. Where ponies take the bad produce an’ other food stuffs that they couldn’t sell to their merchants an’ sell it directly to the unknowing public,” the yellow filly mused. Her eyes wandered to look at all of the different vendors.
“Where did all of that come from. Apple Bloom?” Sweetie Belle asked in puzzlement.
“It’s what Applejack always tells me,” Apple Bloom shrugged, “It’s why my family doesn’t sell nothin’ here.”
“I don’t care what you say, I like the farmer’s market,” the pegasus filly said, “There’s always something neat going on.”
Apple Bloom smiled, “Ah do agree, ah really do like all the neat kinds of food that they got here.”
Taking a deep inhale, Scootaloo smiled, “I think the funnel cake pony is here again! We have to stop by!”
“I think I smell the funnel cakes too!” Sweetie Belle also got excited, “but Rarity told me I need to pick up some carrots for tonight’s dinner. She always insists on having produce from the farmer’s market. Something about it being ‘farm-to-table’, whatever that means.”
The earth pony stopped in a bit of confusion, “What does ‘farm-to-table’ mean?”
Sweetie Belle also stopped and thought for a second, “I’m not sure. Maybe think it’s something about food going straight from the farm to the pony eating it.”
“Wait, what does that mean for me? Am ah doin’ that farm-to-table thing?”
Scootaloo gave her thoughts, “I think it has to do with knowing where the food is coming from and stuff.”
“But it comes from farms. Ah know this because ah live on a farm.” Apple Bloom was using her hoof to work out the problem in her head, “Our food goes from our farm to our table, so does that make it farm-to-table? Ah’m confused….”
The three fillies continued to chat for a bit about what exactly ‘farm-to-table’ meant before they continued along the crowded marketplace aisle. As they made their way down to each vendor, they would peek through the different items they had. However, each vendor failed to have anything that caught the attention of the three fillies.
“Not much at the market today, huh?” Apple Bloom asked as the ponies took a quick break outside of the rushing traffic.
“It’s gonna change when we get that funnel cake. I know the funnel cake pony is around here, and we’re gonna find him,” Scootaloo insisted, “I can already taste that boysenberry.”
“Apple Bloom is right though, there isn’t all that much for sale,” Sweetie Belle agreed.
Before either of the ponies could say anything else, something caught Scootaloo’s attention out of the corner of her eye.
“Hey, did we check that booth out?” she pointed.
Both Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle turned to look at where she was pointing. Off to the side at the end of one of the aisles, there was a small dark purple tent that was propped up with drapes over all but a single side. Under the shade, there was a single table and a shadowy figure behind it. Oddly, there was not a single creature that seemed to acknowledge the stand’s existence.
“No, I don’t think we have,” the unicorn filly stated.
“Let’s check it out,” Apple Bloom said.
The three fillies trotted up to the tent and were greeted by a strange and exotic scent as they drew close. Before they were able to set a hoof under the shade of the canopy, a voice called to them:
“Ah….welcome, fillies, welcome. What can I help you with today?”
The eyes of the young ponies adjusted to the shade under the tent. Behind the table sat a light red unicorn mare with a dark mane upon her head. She looked to be about as old as the filly’s school teacher, Miss Cheerilee, maybe a bit older. Wrapped around her neck was a lilac cloak that rested on top of a green sari which draped over her body. The top of her head was adorned with golden jewelry that was fitted around her horn. Her deep red eyes rested on the three fillies at the entrance to her tent.
“Come in, come in,” she welcomed and motioned with her hoof. “What is it that I can help you find today?”
Sweetie Belle was the first to speak, “I don’t remember seeing your booth here before. Are you new to the Ponyville Farmer’s Market?”
“You could say that,” the mare answered. Her voice was rough but kind, “I am but a humble traveling merchant, selling my unique wares wherever I can along my journey to nowhere.”
“I don’t mean to ignore the weird description of your life,” Scootaloo said, her gaze down at the table between them, “but what kind of stuff is all of this?”
A small chuckle escaped the mare’s lips as she also looked down at the various items spread out on the table. It was littered with a number of different items that each most likely had nothing in common with the ones next to them. “Oh, these are just a few of the numerous items I have picked up on my travels. They all have a purpose for somecreature somewhere, and I feel it’s up to me to help them find a new home.” A sign hung from the edge of the table and it read the following in large, friendly letters: ALL SALES ARE FINAL.
Apple Bloom surveyed the entire table, “It all looks like junk to me.”
“None of it’s junk!” the mare’s demeanor broke for a second before she returned to her pleasant state. “Sorry, didn’t mean to go off like that, but I assure you fillies, each of these items all have a significant purpose. Some might say, they are even magical artifacts.”
Each of the young ponies’ ears perked up at the unicorn’s words.
“Really?” Scootaloo’s face looked surprised as she looked back at the table.
“Oh, yes, very much so.”
Picking up one of the books on the table, Apple Bloom opened it up to a random page. Once opened, otherworldly screeches and howls came from the pages. Quickly, the filly slammed the book closed in fright.
Another chuckle escaped from the merchant. “Oh, that book might be a bit too much for a filly like you. It was written by a half-crazed individual who spent years upon years wandering the deserts, listening to the strange sounds heard and writing about the demonic entities who made them. Studying the words on those pages will cause the reader to meet with an horrific end, just like them. Or rather that’s how the story goes.”
Sweetie Belle peered over to look at the aged cover of the book and it’s title, “Necronomicon….”
“Is that how you pronounce it?” Apple Bloom asked.
“Boring! I don’t care about any book,” Scootaloo chimed as she took the book out of Apple Bloom’s hooves and back on the table. Her eyes were drawn to something else, “Did that box just move on its own?”
Just as the pegasus said, there was a small box on the table that seemed to be vibrating every so often. It was just a little bigger than the size of the books on the table. There was also great age to the wood and the metal latches and hinges. Keeping the box shut was an old lock that struggled to keep the doors closed.
“It seems we’ve woken him up,” the mare commented. “Within this box is a very malicious spirit, hoping to escape and cling to any nearby soul. They say that once it latches to a host, it will take over their body until they are no longer in control and the spirit takes over. As you can tell, he’s very restless.” The shopkeeper's words were accented by the spirit’s futile attempts to break free from the box. “I must say, it must have been quite a task to trick the spirit into that box.”
All three of the fillies recoiled at the sight and the sounds of the spirit’s attempt to break free.
“Guess he won’t find a new home today,” the mare slightly laughed as she motioned to another item.
The unicorn filly’s eyes darted away from the box to another part of the table. It was there that Sweetie Belle saw an exquisite teapot resting on the opposite end. “Oh, that’s a beautiful teapot,” she remarked as she leaned in to examine the porcelain.
“Ah, yes. It’s a beautiful piece of work, isn’t it?” the mare motioned to the teapot. “No creature seems to have any information of who made it, or even where. But despite it’s strange yet captivating designs, whenever a creature pours themselves a cup of tea, the liquid that comes out is perfectly suited to their tastes. No matter what you may have put inside, it truly is astounding. However, previous owners have experienced strange happenings and hallucinations the longer they have been in possession of it. But that just has to be a silly story, right?” A small smile appeared on the shopkeeper’s face.
Before Sweetie Belle could examine the teapot further, Apple Bloom pointed at one of the strange objects, “What the hay is that?”
Scootaloo also chimed in with confusion, “Whoa, yeah, what is that weird thing?”
All four ponies looked down at the object in question: a severed chicken talon. Three claws sprung forth from the detached body part, and a fourth below the spur section where all three claws met. Each one of the pale yellow claws were extended, yet slightly curled as if they were grasping at something unseen.
“I see you have found the chicken talon. Made from a real chicken, it’s an object of remarkable power. It has the power to grant wishes to whosoever holds it,” the mare declared.
“Wishes, huh?” Scootaloo’s interest was quickly sparked as were the rest of the fillies, “How much for it?”
The eyes of the shopkeeper narrowed a bit in surprise, “Now I must warn you about something….”
“Yeah, yeah, we saw the sign that says ‘all sales are final’,” Scootaloo said.
“No, it isn’t that. Well, yes, that is true though, all sales are final, but it is about the chicken talon,” the mare spoke, “I must caution you that the wishes that this talon grants come at a price. For you see, no wish for free.”
Sweetie Belle was starting to pull out her money, “Of course it comes at a price, that’s how the farmer’s market works.”
“Duh, we gotta pay for it first!” Apple Bloom added as she pulled her money out as well. “How much do you have, Sweetie Belle?”
“I got fourteen bits. Scootaloo?”
“Ten. Apple Bloom?”
“Ah got thirteen. Is that enough?”
The mare looked at the three young ponies as they held up their coins to her. “If this is what you fillies desire, then who am I to stop you?” the mare stated as she reached out for the coins. As the fillies gave their money to her, she reached for the talon and held it for a moment. She then gave a warning: “Remember, there are grave consequences that come with this item. With each wish, you may regret as you might get exactly what you wished for.”
“Yeah, yeah, just give it here!” Scootaloo said eagerly.
“Very well,” the mare passed the severed chicken talon to the fillies with a sly smile, “just don’t waste your wishes.”
With the chicken talon in their possession, the three fillies galloped off in excitement. They stopped themselves at one of the tables set up around the market. As they sat, they each took a closer look at the talon as it rested on the table. Just as the shopkeeper said, it was apparent that it was from the real animal. The points of each claw looked sharp to the touch, enough to draw blood with a single scratch.
“Looks like there are three claws, so that’s a wish each!” Scootaloo spoke as she bounced in her seat, unable to contain her excitement.
“This is so excitin’! We get to have wishes!” Apple Bloom cheered, “We can wish for anythin’!”
“It’s kind of creepy, isn’t it?” Sweetie Belle asked as she looked at the .
Scootaloo did agree, “You’re not wrong. It is the detached body part of a chicken and it does have a weird vibe to it.”
The earth pony nodded, “It’s weird just lookin’ at it. But ah think it’s still worth the creepiness for the wishes!”
“Totally! What are you gonna wish for?” the pegasus asked her friends.
“Ah’m thinkin’ of wishin’ for unlimited cheesecake!” Apple Bloom happily answered.
Sweetie Belle raised an eyebrow, “Cheesecake? Why would you want cheesecake?”
“What do you got against cheesecake? It’s a great pie!” Scootaloo said.
“Ah don’t think cheesecake is pie,” Apple Bloom spoke.
The pegasus crossed her hooves, “Sure it is.”
“Doesn’t pie have fruit filling?” Sweetie Belle asked.
Scootaloo was quick to reply, “Cheese is a fruit.”
“But….cow’s ain’t trees.”
As the three continued to argue about the dessert, they were spotted by one of the patrons of the farmer’s market. “Oh, hey there.” All three turned to see a small purple dragon carrying a stack of books.
“Oh, Spike! Hiya!” Apple Bloom was the first to greet him.
“What brings you out here?” Sweetie Belle asked.
Spike used his head to motion to the stack of books he was having some difficulty carrying, “Twilight is having me pick up a bunch of books for her. She said that after I finish running her errands, I can go get sweets from some of the stalls. I’ve been smelling that funnel cake all morning and it’s driving me crazy.” He set the stack of books down on the tabletop for a moment to rest his arms, “Geez, those are so heavy. Anyway, I heard you three arguing and I thought I’d see what’s up.”
“Well, we were talking about what to wish for, and Apple Bloom brought up unlimited cheesecake, but apparently Sweetie Belle doesn’t like that idea,” Scootaloo answered.
“It’s not cake and I’d hardly call it cheese!” the unicorn filly passionately proclaimed.
“It is too cake! It’s even in the name!” Apple Bloom replied.
Sweetie Belle retorted, “But cake has layers, like onions!”
“I still think it’s pie,” Scootaloo interjected.
“It’s not pie, either!” Sweetie Belle insisted.
The dragon was a bit dumbfounded at the fillies argument, “This has to be the stupidest fight the three of you have ever had.”
“We’ve had stupider!” Scootaloo called back.
Spike simply rolled his eyes as the ponies continued to bicker. However, he noticed the talon resting on the table. He squinted at it for a moment, trying his best to confirm it was what he thought it was. Unfortunately, it was.
“What the hay is that?” he pointed at the chicken talon.
“Oh, it’s this chicken talon we got from one of the booths. We each get a wish from it!” Sweetie Belle answered.
“An’ that’s when ah thought about gettin’ cheesecake!” the earth pony said.
The dragon glared at the object with disdain. “That thing is not something you want to have. Trust me. You’re best off taking that thing and throwing it into the lake or burying it so deep that no creature can ever find it again.”
Sweetie Belle tilted her head, “Huh? But we just got it?”
“And we paid thirty-nine bits for it!” Scootaloo protested.
“It’s not worth tempting fate. That thing is a cursed object that will bring nothing but bad news,” Spike’s words were urgent and somber.
Apple Bloom waved her hoof and scoffed, “Ya don’t know what yer sayin’, Spike.
“I know exactly what I’m talking about,” Spike’s words were both dreaded and cautious, “Look, I still have to finish up my errands for Twilight. I’ll help you get rid of that thing later but whatever you do, just don’t wish for anything with that chicken talon. There will be unintended consequences if you use it.” He lifted up the stack of books and headed off.
After the dragons left the fillies, they all exchanged a look to one another and agreed with one another.
“So, we’re all gonna use our wishes?”
“Ah’m gonna use mine!”
“Totally! I’m already getting ideas!”
The three fillies looked at chicken talon as it rested upon the surface of the table. The endless ideas for their wishes began to flood their minds.
“Because I gave the most bits to buy the chicken talon!” the unicorn said with a hint of pride. The unicorn looked down at the chicken talon with a smile.
Scootaloo gave a bit of a pouty look to her friend, “Alright, fine. But I get to go next!”
Apple Bloom also looked down at the talon curiously. “It’s kinda excitin’ thinkin’ how we each get a wish with this thing, but do ya think Spike might be right? That maybe we shouldn’t use it and jus’ wait fer him to get back?”
Sweetie Belle turned her attention to her earth pony friend, “Why? We’re all big fillies. I think we can all handle making our own wishes.”
“He did seem awfully panicked,” Apple Bloom added.
“Yeah, I like Spike and all,” the orange filly scoffed with a bit of an attitude, “I mean, he’s easily my favorite dragon, but he doesn’t know everything.”
“How many dragons do you know?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“Just him, but that’s not the point.”
With a shrug, Apple Bloom agreed, “Yer both right. After all, ah don’t think we really need to take any advice from the same dragon that got kicked out of the karaoke bar fer singin’ the same song on repeat. Anyway, let’s get our wishes!” All three of the fillies nodded in their agreement to continue on.
Both Apple Bloom and Scootaloo watched on as Sweetie Belle picked up the talon off of the table. She held it up for all three of them to see. The detail of the talon was more apparent in the sunlight. It looked as if the talon had something used to preserve the chicken body part after being detached from the animal. To the touch, the talon was rough and rugged and it’s smell was similar to that of the merchant’s tent with an added hint of vinegar.
“What’cha gonna wish for, Sweetie Belle?” Scootaloo asked, leaning on the table toward her friend.
“I’m not sure,” Sweetie Belle admitted as she pondered.
Apple Bloom interrupted her thoughts with a sly smirk, “Ya can always wish for unlimited cheesecake….”
Sweetie Belle didn’t like the idea at all, “I’m not going to wish for cheesecake! I don’t care if it has chocolate, strawberries, or whatever! It’s not going to happen!”
Despite the outburst, Apple Bloom couldn’t help but snicker.
Scootaloo changed the subject, “Well, what’s something you really want to wish for? There’s got to be something you really want right now.”
The unicorn filly began thinking again, “Goodness, I know every creature thinks about what they would want if they could have any wish granted, but when I’m put on the spot, I can’t think of anything.” Her free hoof lightly tapped her lips as she held the talon with her other hoof for a few seconds until an idea came to mind. “I got it!”
“What is it?” Apple Bloom asked.
“Well, my sister Rarity has been really busy lately and saying how she doesn’t have as much free time with all of her work. She keeps taking on all these new responsibilities. I know she likes being generous and helping everyone, but she should really take some time away from all of her businesses and spend it on herself.”
Scootaloo had a smile on her face, “That’s a pretty nice thing to wish for her.”
Apple Bloom also shared the thought, “Yeah, ah’m sure she’d like ta have a bit of a break.”
Holding up the chicken talon, Sweetie Belle spoke, “I wish for my sister Rarity to have more free time for herself.”
As soon as Sweetie Belle finished speaking her wish, the chicken talon began to vibrate in her hoof. She managed to keep her grip on the talon, but the movement was not the most surprising act from the object performed: one of the claws on the talon recoiled downward. Only two top claws remained.
Finally, the chicken talon stopped vibrating. All three fillies exchanged concerned looks to one another.
“Did ya just see it movin’ like that? It was so creepy!”
“Check it out! One of the claws went backwards!”
“Do you think it worked?”
The ponies looked at the talon, one of it’s claws retreated inward. Sweetie Belle set it back down on the table.
“I guess we have to wait to see if it did,” Sweetie Belle answered. The unicorn took a deep breath, “I do hope Rarity enjoys her break. She works so hard and I really think she deserves it.”
“That was a really selfless wish, Sweetie Belle. I’m positive she’s gonna love it,” Scootaloo reassured her friend.
Apple Bloom nodded, “Yeah, that was really nice of ya.” The yellow filly looked down at the talon for a moment, with only two of it’s top claws extended, “Ya both saw how weird that talon was actin’ when Sweetie Belle made that wish, right?”
“It felt so frightening when it started moving!” Sweetie Belle admitted, “I thought it was gonna pop out of my hooves or something! Honestly, I’m sort of glad I’m not holding it anymore.”
Scootaloo smirked, “Well that’s good, ‘cause it’s my turn to make a wish!”
Before the pegasus filly could reach for the talon, there was a loud wailing sound coming from the crowded farmer’s market. It took a while for the source of the sound was apparent: it was coming from a white unicorn with a purple mane and tail. Sweetie Belle immediately recognized her sister.
“Rarity?” Sweetie Belle asked as she trotted toward the crying mare that was coming toward her.
To the surprise of each filly, the unicorn mare was galloping towards them. Her mane didn’t have it’s usual style and fashion to it, rather it looked as if Rarity had attempted to pull each fiber out in a hysteric fit. The tears that were falling down her face were more apparent as she drew closer to them.
“Sweetie Belle!” she called out, closing the gap. “Oh, Sweetie Belle, it’s just awful!”
“Rarity, what’s wrong?” Sweetie Belle asked.
Pausing to catch her breath from both her galloping and her sobbing, Rarity replied, “I’m ruined, oh, I’m just absolutely ruined! My shop is just a disaster!” She continued to cry as she spoke, causing utter nonsense to come out.
Scootaloo spoke up, hoping to calm Rarity down and to get a clear answer, “Whoa, calm down. What happened?”
“Everything in my store….all of it is just in a state of complete devastation!” Rarity did lower her volume and did her best to control her crying.
“What do ya mean?” Apple Bloom tilted her head, puzzled.
“I….I just don’t know what happened! I went to fetch some fabric to work upon a new order, but every single piece I could find was riddled with holes! Every spool of fabric had holes and looked as if it had aged hundreds of years!” Rarity explained. It was apparent that simply talking about it was causing her some distress. “And that’s not the only thing: every single one of the gems I use for the designs have turned to dust! I….I don’t even know how that is possible! This all just seems like a bizarre nightmare! I might….oh dear, I might actually have to close down Carousel Boutique….”
Each of the three fillies exchanged looks to one another as Rarity began to sob again. Their glances were a mixture of unsure of how to reply and if they were the ones who may have caused this misfortune.
Sweetie Belle spoke softly, “Well, maybe this is a good thing? You had been working a lot, and you certainly deserve a break.”
“It’s….It’s not that simple, Sweetie Belle,” Rarity was speaking through her tears, “With Carousel Boutique closed down, we won’t be able to live there anymore. The more I think about this, it looks like we will have to move back with mother and father. Oh Celestia why! I don’t want to move back in with mother and father!”
The last statement confused the unicorn filly, “What’s wrong with living with mom and dad?”
Rarity didn’t answer, as she started bawling again. Without saying anything else coherent in her rambling, she galloped away, leaving the three fillies alone at the table again.
“There are plenty of possible explanations for what happened to Rarity and the shop,” Sweetie Belle pondered of what that explanation could be.
Scootaloo had to ask, “Name one.”
Sweetie Belle quickly answered, “I’ll let you know when I think of one.”
As they chatted a bit about Sweetie Belle’s sister and her bad luck, the fillies were visited again by two more ponies: a yellow pegasus and a pink earth pony.
“Hello girls,” the pegasus was the first to speak
“Oh, hello Miss Fluttershy and Miss Pinkie Pie,” Apple Bloom greeted them, “what brings ya both out here?”
“We’re actually looking for Rarity,” Fluttershy answered.
Pinkie Pie added, “You know: Rarity. Unicorn with a white coat, fancy purple mane and tail, elegant behavior, related to her.” Pinkie pointed a hoof at Sweetie Belle. “You haven’t seen her around here, have you?”
“Yes, actually. She just came by a few moments ago,” Sweetie Belle answered.
“Really? Was she okay?” Fluttershy asked with concern.
“No. No, she certainly was not,” Scootaloo flatly answered.
Apple Bloom added further, “She came up to us all in tears ‘bout how her shop was ruined and then galloped off after tellin’ Sweetie Belle that they might have ta move back in with their parents.”
“Oh dear, so she was sobbing uncontrollably here too?” Fluttershy thought for a moment before looking at Pinkie Pie, “We should try to find her and help her out. Quick, we have to think of where a hysterical and depressed pony might be.”
Pinkie Pie gave a salute and a determined smile, “Right, to the ice cream parlor!”
Both of the older mares galloped away from the young fillies. It was then they noticed that tied to Pinkie’s tail was her party cannon. The cannon was loaded and redecorated on the sides to read ‘CHEER UP RARITY’ in large letters.
At the table, all three of the fillies returned their gaze back to the chicken talon that rested on the surface. A few questions ran through their heads, particularly asking if that dismembered chicken part truly did grant Sweetie Belle’s wish.
Lifting her head up, Scootaloo cracked a joke to the unicorn, “Well, at least we now know it works fast.”
“Not funny, Scootaloo!” Sweetie Belle quickly bit back.
Apple Bloom leaned toward Sweetie Belle and also spoke, “That cheesecake wish ain’t lookin’ so bad now, huh?”
“This is so bad! I can’t believe my wish ruined Rarity’s store!” Sweetie Belle panicked, “I didn’t mean for that to happen!”
“Maybe you can make a wish to undo all of that bad stuff,” Apple Bloom suggested as she placed a comforting hoof on her unicorn friend.
“Not a chance!” Scootaloo interrupted, “we all agreed that we each get a wish from the chicken talon, and no pony gets two wishes.”
Apple Bloom began to object, “But Scootaloo….”
“No, she’s right, Apple Bloom. We all get to make a wish,” Sweetie Belle said, “Besides, what are the odds that what happened to Rarity was actually my wish? Maybe my wish is going to happen later for her?”
The pegasus filly smirked as she picked up the chicken talon from the table top, “Alright, time to make my own wish!”
“Does it strike any of y’all strange about how the wish sorta came out….strangely?” Apple Bloom thought aloud.
“I will admit, it is pretty weird how that wish went down,“ a nod came from Scootaloo as she looked down at the talon in her hoof. Two of the claws pointed upward while one of the claws was curled and pointing down to the remainder of the talon. “Do you think this talon has something up with it?”
Sweetie Belle tilted her head curiously, “Like what?”
“I don’t know, maybe we need to be exact with our wording?” Scootaloo asked.
“That’s actually a good thought. Ya didn’t give exact details about the wish, Sweetie Belle. Ya jus’ said ya wanted Rarity to have more free time, not exactly how she got it,” the earth pony gave her thoughts about how the wish unfolded.
“So, the wording has to be exactly right?” the unicorn filly pondered, “That would make some sense.”
“Though ah feel this chicken talon thingy could have come with some instructions,” Apple Bloom said with a hint of bitterness.
“Right?!” Sweetie Belle was quick to agree.
“Alright, alright, I think I can make this thing work,” Scootaloo proclaimed as she positioned herself in what the fillies would possibly call their wish-making stance, “I wish to be able to fly exactly like Rainbow Dash!”
As Scootaloo finished speaking her wish, the chicken talon began to shake violently in her grasp. The pegasus was expecting it after watching what happened during Sweetie Belle’s wish. She kept her hold on the talon. All three of the fillies watched as another claw on the talon curled up, leaving one claw sticking upward.
“Goodness, it did it again!”
“The talon moved on it’s own!”
“That’s so creepy!”
After the chorus of comments from the fillies, the chicken talon stopped moving. All three of them exchanged glances at one another as they waited for the fulfillment.
“Did it work?” Sweetie Belle asked.
No sooner than the question was asked, a shining light appeared upon Scootaloo’s body. The glare caused all three ponies to shield their eyes. Once it disappeared, they all looked to see what remained. Both Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle had looks of astonishment while Scootaloo had a large and excited smile: Scootaloo had a new pair of blue wings.
“Whoa….” was all Apple Bloom was able to say at first.
“Are they….are they real?” Sweetie Belle leaned in to get a closer look.
Throwing the chicken talon aside on the table, Scootaloo opened the wings up and inspected her new anatomy, “These are so cool!”
“Wait a minute,” Apple Bloom spoke up, “is it me or do those wings look familiar. Ah mean, they’re blue wings.”
Sweetie Belle agreed, “Yeah, they’re blue.”
“Of course they are,” Scootaloo said with a hint of pride, “I said I wanted to fly just like Rainbow Dash, so the wings gotta look the part, ya know?” She flapped her wings a couple times to stretch them out. They were large in comparison to the size of Scootaloo and appeared to be that of a grown pegasi pony.
With a bored glare, Sweetie Belle asked, “So you really wished to fly like Rainbow Dash?”
“Duh!” the pegasus answered “I want to be just like her!”
“Ya coulda also wished for some sort of power or something,” Apple Bloom suggested.
“Power? Pfft, as if. If I wanted to be a sociopath and go mad with power, I would of become a lawyer,” Scootaloo waved her hoof at the idea. “Besides, now I can fly with Rainbow Dash!”
“I get that’s what you wanted to do for your wish, but don’t you have to learn to fly with those wings?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“Yeah, don’t ya have to learn all over again?” the earth pony concurred, “Ah know ah don’t fully understand how flyin’ works fer pegasi ponies, but aren’t a pony’s wings supposed to be in relation to the size of their body?”
Scootaloo did pause for a moment to think, “Well, that is something that Miss Cheerilee mentioned in class once, but I don’t really remember.” She again began to flap the new wings again, “Besides, who cares about that? I got to try these new wings out!”
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The orange filly was stretching out her body as athletic pegasus ponies would do before any sort of competition or incredible feat. She stretched out her hooves and limbs as well as the new blue wings that were attached the orange ones once were.
“Are ya sure ya want to test out yer new wings now?” Apple Bloom asked her friend from the nearby table.
“Duh! How can I wait any longer?” Scootaoo said as she hopped up and down in place to prepare her body.
“I do have to agree with Apple Bloom on this,” Sweetie Belle joined in, “Do you really think it’s a good idea to try and speed through the sky right away? Maybe you should try something easier? Like hovering?”
Scootaloo scoffed at her friend’s concern, “I already could hover! I want to break some records already! I get you’re both concerned and all, but these wings are gonna be awesome!”
Finishing her stretching and warming up, Scootaloo crouched down and narrowed her eyes at the sky above. “Watch out, Wonderbolts, I’m gonna be making history!” The orange pegasus opened up her large blue wings and began flapping them. However, the power of the wings were a bit too much for the filly’s body and she rocketed upward into the sky.
Both Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle widened their eyes in concern as their friend accidentally launched herself into the air with a scream.
“Oh mah gosh!”
“Whoa, Scootaloo!”
A terrified screech was coming from Scootaloo as she climbed into the sky. Doing everything she could, Scootaloo attempted to steer herself around the sky but to no avail. She flew into a number of clouds, causing them to dissipate upon her speedy impact with them. Scootaloo’s cries for help were heard all over as she zoomed across the sky and all over Ponyville.
Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom continued to watch from the table, their heads following the orange blur across the sky.
“She really should have tried to start small with hovering,” the unicorn stated.
The earth pony nodded in agreement, “Uh-huh. Ah had a feelin’ those wings were too much fer her body.”
Shortly after their exchange, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle watched as Scootaloo attempted to come in for a landing nearby. The pegasus flew low to the ground at a high speed, still shrieking in terror. Her hooves were stretched out in an attempt to land properly. However, upon contact with the ground, Scootaloo face-planted into the ground and her body took the full force of the inertia as she tumbled onto the ground. She stood back up onto her hooves despite her body being both dirty and sore from the landing, but she was at least on the ground now. The expression on Scootaloo’s face was irritated and weary.
Sweetie Belle gave a smirk as she watched the orange pony trot back to them, “So….how was it flying with those wings?”
“Shut up.”
“What? Ah thought you would enjoy yer flight,” Apple Bloom also joined in.
“I said shut it!” Scootaloo demanded.
Both Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom began to laugh as Scootaloo started brushing off the dirt from her rough landing. Despite Scootaloo glaring daggers at her friends, they didn’t stop. Not long after did a familiar face trotted up to them, that of Scootaloo’s idol Rainbow Dash.
“Hiya, Miss Rainbow Dash!” Apple Bloom waved.
Scootaloo’s ears perked up at the mention of the blue pegasus, “Hey Rainbow Dash!”
She trotted closer and gave a weak wave, “Hey, squirts.” Rainbow looked a bit out of it. It was quite obvious of why upon closer look: both of her wings were gone. “I know this sounds weird but….have you seen my wings?”
“Yer wings?” Apple Bloom asked in confusion.
“You’re missing your wings? How’s that possible?” Sweetie Belle added.
Scootaloo was about to ask a question as well, but stopped short as her mind pieced a puzzle together in her mind. She gave a guilty side-glance at the blue wings that were attached to her back.
Rainbow Dash nodded, “Yeah, they’re just gone, like poof! It was so weird. One moment, I’m relaxing on a cloud for my afternoon nap, and the next thing I know, I’m falling to the ground! If I didn’t land into a hay bale at Sweet Apple Acres, things could have been a whole lot worse!”
“Goodness, that’s awfully scary ta think about!” the earth pony said.
“Do you know what could have happened to them?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“No idea,” Rainbow shook her head, “I’m going to see if I can’t find Twilight to see if she knows something about this. Maybe it’s something with that jerk Discord.”
Scootaloo’s eyes peeked over at the chicken talon that rested on the nearby tabletop. Two of the claws were curled up.
“Oh Scootaloo, what’cha got there on your back?” Rainbow Dash stretched her neck to take a look at the blue wings that were attached to the orange filly’s body.
“Uh….it’s a part of a cosplay!” Scootaloo quickly panicked. “Yeah, I’m working on a cosplay to look just like you!” She tried her best to lie behind her smile.
“Really? That’s pretty cool,” Rainbow Dash said. “Anyway, I’d like to stay to chat and all, but I really should look for my wings. I kinda feel naked without them.”
The wingless Rainbow Dash trotted off into the farmer’s market, leaving the three fillies alone.
Scootaloo was the first to speak, “So, are we all thinking that….”
Sweetie Belle interjected with the answer, “Yup, your wish somehow stole Rainbow Dash’s wings.”
“At least you didn’t take her livelihood like Sweetie Belle did ta her sister,” Apple Bloom said before correcting herself, “Wait, wait no, ya did. Nevermind.”
Both Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle glared a scowl to the earth pony.
Apple Bloom was pacing around the table as her friends sat down. The chicken talon rested on the tabletop. “Okay,” she started, “so the chicken talon doesn’t like ambiguous wordin’ when it comes ta wishes.”
“That’s right,” Sweetie Belle nodded.
“Nor does it like when there’s mentionin’ of some other creature, cause bad things might happen to them,” the earth pony continued.
“Oh, you got that right,” Scootaloo said, examining one of Rainbow Dash’s wings that were now attached to her, “These things are way too powerful for my body.”
The yellow filly trotted to the table to look at the chicken talon on the table’s surface. Two of the claws that were pointing upward were now curled downward, leaving only a single one upwards. “And only a single wish is left,” she said as she thought aloud, “ah didn’t think there would be so many rules when we got this thing.”
Sweetie Belle agreed, “Yeah. I mean, that salesmare did warn us there would be grave consequences. I thought she was just being colorful with her language.”
“Ah still think it shoulda come with instructions fer us,” Apple Bloom pouted a little, “that way we wouldn’t have any of these problems.”
“Maybe,” the unicorn filly shrugged, “but we know now what this chicken talon can do. But because it doesn’t like vague wording, maybe we should use it to fix all the problems we caused? What do you think, Scootaloo?”
The pegasus pony was continuing to inspect the newly attached blue wings.
“Scootaloo? Are ya okay?” Apple Bloom asked.
“Yeah, sorry. It’s just I can actually have feeling in Rainbow Dash’s wings. It’s so weird. And for that matter, if I were to give them back to her, would it require surgery or something?” Scootaloo’s face grew worried as she continued to think aloud, “Oh dear, would that be covered by my healthcare plan?”
Sweetie Belle looked like she wanted to make a comment about Scootaloo’s predicament, but she held her tongue. Instead, she turned back to Apple Bloom, “Well, I think the best solution would be for us to use the last wish to return things back to normal for both Rarity and Rainbow Dash.”
Apple Bloom looked at the chicken talon and the only claw at the top that was not curled up. On principle, she completely agreed, “Y’all have a point, but this thing is mighty powerful. But one wrong word, and ah might make matters worse for both of them, or maybe even all of Ponyville. I don’t think me tryin’ to fix it without fully knowin’ the rules or the the end result would be smart.”
“Then what do you suppose we do for the last wish?” the unicorn asked.
There was a bit of a pause before the earth pony answered with a bit of guilt, “Lemme have mah wish.”
Both Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were a bit surprised.
“What? Both of y’all got to have yer wishes granted, ah think ah should be able to make one,” Apple Bloom said.
Sweetie Belle looked to Scootaloo and both exchanged nervous glances to each other before returning to Apple Bloom.
“Well, it is fair,” Sweetie Belle agreed.
“But you have to be very careful about what you wish for and your wording,” Scootaloo stressed, “because if you’re not….” she then pointed to large blue wings that were attached to her body.
Apple Bloom took the chicken talon into her hoof. She looked at it for a moment before returning her sight to her friends, “Ah know, that’s why ah’m trying to think of what would be the best thing to wish fer.”
“Fine, but just don’t be ambiguous with your wish,” Sweetie Belle warned.
“Ah got it, ah got it,” the earth pony said. She looked back down at the talon and the claw that pointed upward. Just looking at the chicken body part was unnerving, and even more so each time when a wish was made and a claw curled down towards the fourth claw near the spur of the talon. “Hmm….ah think ah got it!”
“What’s your wish?”
“I hope it won’t be anything that’ll backfire.”
Apple Bloom held the talon up in the air, “Ah wish fer me ta be able ta see what it’s like to be like my dog, Winona!”
No sooner than when she finished speaking, the chicken talon started to violently shake in her grasp. Apple Bloom held on to it as the third claw that was pointing upward curled downward to the same position as the other two, leaving only the small claw at the spur left unmowed.
A flash of light enveloped Apple Bloom’s entire body, causing both Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo to cover their eyes from the glare. A few moments passed before the light faded away. In the spot where the earth pony once stood, there was a dog with a brown and white coat. However, instead of the head of the expected Winona, there was the head of the wisher, Apple Bloom. Her yellow head rested on top of the dog body, however, her red mane lacked her signature pink bow.
Both Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle stared at Apple Bloom in her new body for only a few seconds before they both bursted out into laughter.
“What? What’s so funny?” Apple Bloom asked.
Between the laughter, Scootaloo answered with her own question, “Have you seen what you look like?”
“No?” she answered with a bit of concern.
Still laughing, Sweetie Belle used her magic to open and levitate her makeup compact to Apple Bloom. In the mirror, Apple Bloom was able to fully see what her wish had turned her into: a dog with a pony head.
“What the everlovin’ buck?!” the pony-turned-canine’s voice cracked as she saw her reflection.
“What kind of a wish was that?” Sweetie Belle asked as the unicorn and pegasus both eased up their laughter.
“Ah….Ah didn’t mean fer this ta happen! Ah just wanted ta know what it was like ta be a dog!” Apple Bloom explained with a bit of panic.
Scootaloo started to scold her friend, “I agree with Sweetie Belle on this, why in Celestia’s name would you make a wish like that? And for that matter, what did we just say about exact wording?!”
Almost pleading for forgiveness, Apple Bloom quickly replied, “Ah forgot!” However, her attitude also turned sour, “Also, yer not one to talk, Miss ‘ah-wish-ah-could-fly-like-Rainbow-Dash’!”
Sweetie Belle snickered a little at her friend’s squabbling, “I know I shouldn’t be laughing at this, but seeing a small Winona yelling at Scootaloo is just too funny! I know one puppy who’s needs a nap.”
Apple Bloom turned to look at the unicorn, “This ain’t funny!”
Scootaloo joined in, “Aww, what’s the matter? Do you want a belly rub?”
“Shut it! We gotta find some way ta turn me ba-” Apple Bloom paused as she sat down on the ground and raised one of her new dog hind legs to scratch behind her ears.
Again, trying her best not to laugh, Scootaloo asked, “Would you like me to scratch you behind your ears, Apple Bloom?”
“Ah don’t need yer pity!” Apple Bloom claimed as she continued her attempts to scratch her itch. However, she admitted defeat, “Actually….yes please.”
Scootaloo smirked as she raised a hoof up as she pet her pony-dog friend. Apple Bloom’s dog tail began to sway at contact.
A thought came to Sweetie Belle’s mind, “Hey, I just thought of something. If Apple Bloom’s head is here on Winona’s body, then what happened to Apple Bloom’s body and Winona’s head?”
Apple Bloom’s eyes narrowed, “Oh, sweet sassafras….”
--------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, at Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack and Twilight Sparkle were seated at the dining table in the kitchen. A number of papers and other business looking items were spread out across the tabletop. Both of them were scribbling away, filing out what appeared to be business and tax forms.
As they continued to work, the body of a yellow filly trotted on into the kitchen. However, instead of the head and mane of Applejack’s little sister, the head that rested on the body was the Apple family’s dog Winona. Attached to Winona’s head was Apple Bloom’s well-known pink bow. The dog appeared to be oblivious to the fact that she had switched bodies.
This unique looking dog-pony caught Twilight Sparkle’s attention as they trotted around the kitchen. “Um….Applejack?”
“What is it? Are ya havin’ some trouble fillin’ out our Form 1099? While ah sorta am self-employed, we still need ta fill it out since the whole farm is considered mah employer,” Applejack explained without lifting her head up.
“No, it’s not that,” Twilight paused for a moment before speaking, “Actually, hang on to that thought because I feel like we need to have a discussion about what exactly Sweet Apple Acres is for tax purposes. But back to my question, does Apple Bloom look different to you?”
Applejack lifted her head up slightly to look at the dog-pony that was in the kitchen. “Nah, she looks fine to me,” she answered as she turned her attention back to the papers.
“Are you sure? Because something seems really off about her.”
“That’s just Apple Bloom bein’ Apple Bloom.”
“But she seems….off….” Twilight Sparkle insisted as she watched Winona-with-Apple Bloom’s body started to eat from the dog food bowl on the kitchen floor.
Applejack brushed it off as she continued writing, “It’s probably just puberty.”
Winona finished eating from the bowl and, in her new body, trotted off and out of the room. Twilight got up from her seat and followed her down the hallway.
A few moments later, Twilight returned to continue to express her alarm, “I don’t think that’s it. She’s panting like a dog and is acting very strangely.”
“Like how?” Applejack asked, boredly raising her up from the sheets of tax forms.
“I just saw her drinking from the toilet!” the purple pony declared with urgency.
The orange mare again shrugged as she returned to her paperwork, “She’s gotta learn not ta do that on her own. It’s a natural part of growing up.”
Twilight Sparkle opened her mouth to retort and assert that there was something wrong with Apple Bloom, however she stopped herself in thought. Again, she opened her mouth again as if to say something along the lines of what Applejack meant by her last statement, but stopped herself yet again. Giving up, Twilight returned to the table and the paperwork that awaited.
Coming into her view, the salespony saw three familiar faces. A small smile appeared on her face as she greeted the young ponies, “Ah, welcome back. Are you three fillies interested in another one of my items?” She motioned to the table.
“Yeah, about that,” Sweetie Belle started with a bit of unease, “you see, we tried using that chicken talon thingy and….”
“The wishes backfired!” Scootaloo angrily interrupted. “When we made our wishes, a bunch of weird stuff happened! Like with me and Rainbow Dash’s wings! Sweetie Belle’s sister just lost her business! And just look at Apple Bloom!”
As Scootaloo gestured toward Apple Bloom, she sat her dog-body down and was scratching with her hind leg, “Ah think ah have fleas!”
Raising a hoof up to her mouth and trying her best to not to laugh at the misfortune that had fallen upon the fillies, the mare spoke, “I see, perhaps you three made some foolish wishes?”
Her words didn’t sit well with the unicorn, “Hey, that’s not fair! I wished for Rarity to have more free time, not for Carousel Boutique to shut down!”
“Yeah! And I wanted to fly like Rainbow Dash, not rob her of her wings!” Scootaloo said as she opened up the blue wings that rested on her orange body.
In an almost crying tone, Apple Bloom added, “Ah swear ah didn’t wanna be dog, just know what it’s like ta be a dog!”
“Really? That’s what you wished for?” the salespony asked with a bit of bewilderment. She quickly shook her head and continued, “Well, anyway, I did my best to warn you about the chicken talon’s power, did I not?”
Raising up the chicken talon, Scootaloo threw the item on the table, “We want a full refund.” The top three claws had curled downward to the rest of the severed body part.
“While I am truly sorry for the misfortune that unfolded for you three fillies, I’m afraid that this chicken talon has already been used three times,” the mare pointed out, “And, even if you hadn’t made wishes with it already, there is another factor in play.” The mare then used her hoof to direct the fillies’ eyesight to the sight that hung over the table. In big bold letters, it read: ALL SALES ARE FINAL.
“Oh, come on!” Sweetie Belle cried out.
“It hasn’t even been two hours! Can’t ya cut us some slack?” Apple Bloom pleaded as she finished scratching with her hind legs.
“I’m sorry, but it’s my booth’s policy, and if I bend the rules for you then I’ll have to do so with every other customer who has a complaint with any of my items,” the salespony shrugged, “And I must say there are quite a few of those complaints.”
“What happened to ‘the customer is always right’?” Scootaloo demanded.
“It’s more like the customer didn’t heed the warnings I gave numerous times.”
There was a bit of a commotion between the fillies and the salespony. It was enough to get the attention of a passing dragon.
He made his way to the booth, “Whoa, what’s going on over here?”
“Oh, Spike! Thank Celestia you’re here!” Sweetie Belle sounded relieved to see a familiar face.
“You gotta help us, this salespony won’t give us a refund!” Scootaloo explained.
“A refund? For what?” Spike asked.
“That creepy chicken talon she sold us!” Apple Bloom answered.
Spike looked at Apple Bloom in her dog-body, “Are….Are you a dog?”
“That’s not important right now!” she replied.
Clearing her throat, the salespony gathered every creature’s attention, “As I have already told your friends here, the chicken talon not only has been used, but it is my policy that all sales are final. I gave plenty of warning before the purchase was finalized.”
The dragon’s eyes lowered down to the table, where he found the chicken talon amongst the other bizarre artifacts on the table. He picked up the chicken talon, with three of the claws curled up and the fourth claw near the spur still intact.
“Is this the chicken talon they bought?” Spike asked, holding it talon up.
“Yes, that is correct.”
Spike looked at it closely for a moment and then to the fillies. With a sigh, he spoke, “The three of you really didn’t think this through, did you?”
“Huh?” they collectively were confused.
Holding up the chicken talon, Spike began to speak, “I wish for all the previous wishes from this chicken talon to be undone, as well as all creatures who did not have contact with this talon to not remember anything relating to said wishes, a refund for Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo for their purchase of said chicken talon, for said chicken talon to lose it’s magical properties….and for a hayburger on wheat bread with mayo and mustard that will have no weird surprises.”
As soon as the dragon finished speaking, the claw located near the talon’s spur began to curl inward as the entire chicken talon was violently shaking. Spike kept his hold on the claw until it stopped moving. As the moving came to a stop, a few flashes of light occurred, including on both Scootaloo and Apple Bloom’s bodies. Both returned to normal, with Scootaloo no longer having Rainbow Dash’s wings and Apple Bloom returning back to her normal earth pony body. A final flash occurred in Spike’s free claw, which was how holding a hayburger.
With an almost bored tone, Spike casually tossed the chicken talon with the curled up claws onto the table, “Boom.”
All three of the fillies were dumbfounded as Spike’s single wish with the chicken talon fixed everything.
“My wings! My own wings are back!” Scootaloo said with joy as she hopped up and hoovered for a brief moment.
“Ah’m back in mah own body! Oh, thank Celestia!” Apple Bloom said with a huge relief. She hugged herself with her front hooves. She then asked a question to herself, “Why do ah have a sudden cravin’ for kibble?”
The salespony seemed to be amused by the dragon’s cleverness, “I must say, I’m impressed. Almost as if you’ve had experience with a chicken talon before.”
“Yeah, Twilight and I came across one a while ago,” Spike commented as he took a bite out of his hayburger, “That was a weird weekend.”
Apple Bloom finally snapped out of her stunned daze and spoke, “We coulda stacked wishes?!”
“Of course, it’s not like there’s a rule about it,” Spike said nonchalantly.
“I-....WHAT?!” Scootaloo shouted in frustration.
Sweetie Belle opened up her coin-purse and saw her coins inside, “We got refunded! Everything is back to normal!”
Both Apple Bloom and Scootaloo checked their money as well, finding that all the bits they had spent on the chicken talon had been returned.
Apple Bloom smiled and breathed a sigh of relief, “Thanks fer helpin’ us out, Spike.”
“Yeah, seriously, thanks,” Scootaloo joined in.
“No problem. We’re all friends and we all help each other out.”
“Like that time the four of us got that eight foot party sub!” Scootaloo pointed out.
“Yes, exactly like that, just this time has a lot less mayo,” Spike took another bite of his burger.
“How is that hayburger?” Scootaloo asked.
Spike answered, “Not bad, though the bread is a little stale.”
Again clearing her throat, the salespony got the attention of the young creatures, “As much as I am happy that your misfortunes have been fixed, I do ask that if you are not going to be making another purchase, please leave. There are still plenty of other creatures that would be interested in my artifacts.”
“Alright, alright, we’re going,” Sweetie Belle said with a bit of a huff.
Spike turned to leave but stopped himself to speak to the mare behind the table, “Just please stop selling those cursed objects to unsuspecting creatures, okay? It’s only causing needless problems, okay?”
The salespony raised up a hoof and nodded sincerely, “I promise.”
Spike nodded back and turned around to catch up with the fillies.
“So, did you fillies learn a lesson in all this?” Spike asked as he took another bite of his hayburger.
“Yeah, I learned that everything with that was just absolutely crazy. I’m gonna need chocolate after all of that,” Scootaloo commented.
“Chocolate? Ah need a big funnel cake!” Apple Bloom proclaimed.
Sweetie Belle interjected, “Let’s do both! I know the funnel cake pony sometimes puts chocolate on his funnel cakes and it’s really good!”
“Sounds like a plan to me!” Scootaloo said.
After swallowing the food in his mouth, Spike asked, “So Apple Bloom….did you do it?”
“Do what?” the earth pony asked.
“You know, the dog thing?” Spike said, “Did you….sniff a butt?”
“Ah can’t believe ya’d ask me that!” Apple Bloom was aghast at the question
Spike smirked, “That’s not a no.”
As the three fillies and the dragon left the booth, the mare behind the table took the used up chicken talon and placed it somewhere behind the table. However, she then placed another, strikingly similar looking chicken talon on the table where the other one previously had been. All four claws were stretched outward.
A creature showed up to the front of the table. They looked over the table before their eyes rested upon the talon. He lifted it up and called out, “Whoa, this is so freaky. Hey every creature, check this out.” Five different creatures gathered around him.
“What did friend Gallus find?” one of them asked.
The mare smiled and greeted the group, “Ah, welcome.”
